Receiving hugs may buffer against deleterious changes in mood associated with interpersonal conflict, according to a study published October 3rd 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Michael Murphy of Carnegie Mellon University, along with co-authors Denise Janicki-Deverts and Sheldon Cohen. A release from the publisher notes that people who engage more frequently in… Continue reading Hugs May Help Protect Against Conflict-Related Distress
Author: Sondra Forsyth
Sondra Forsyth is Co-Editor-in-Chief of ThirdAge.com. She is a National Magazine Award winner with scores of major magazine bylines and twelve books to her credit. Her most recent book is “Candida Cleanse: The 21-Day Diet to Beat Yeast and Feel Your Best”. Sondra was Executive Editor at “Ladies’ Home Journal,” Features Editor at “Cosmopolitan,” and Articles Editor at “Bride’s”. A former ballerina, she founded Ballet Ambassadors, an arts-in-education company in New York City, and served as Artistic Director for 16 years.
5 Lies We Tell Ourselves That Age Us
You and I know there’s nothing wrong with getting older. You’ve lived through important experiences and every year is worth celebrating. But if you’re like many women, it’s not just the idea of getting older that bothers you. What bothers you is the worry that you might lose yourself or be forgotten or overlooked because… Continue reading 5 Lies We Tell Ourselves That Age Us
Start an Indoor Garden with Kitchen Scraps
The pantry is full of fall favorites like squash, onions and potatoes, but busy schedules may have you finding a few things growing in the back of your cupboard. With little effort and a pinch of creativity you can grow these into a very imaginative indoor garden. Kids and adults love to watch kitchen discards… Continue reading Start an Indoor Garden with Kitchen Scraps
Domestic Refrigerators May Pose a Risk to Insulin Quality
New research being presented at the 2018 European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in Berlin, Germany (1-5 October), suggests that insulin is often stored at the wrong temperature in patients’ fridges at home, which could affect its potency. The findings were published in Daibetologia, the official journal of the European Association… Continue reading Domestic Refrigerators May Pose a Risk to Insulin Quality
Safety Tips Snowbirds Should Know While Traveling
In the next few months thousands of people will head to warm locations like Florida, Arizona and Texas for a few months to escape the winter weather where they are from. It’s important for snowbirds to be aware of their surroundings while traveling to and from their destination, especially if they are taking a road… Continue reading Safety Tips Snowbirds Should Know While Traveling
Getting Women in the Mood for Sex
Even before ancient Egyptians, the search was on for aphrodisiacs that stimulated sexual desire and pleasure. Today, although we better understand the science behind desire, there is still much to be learned. A recent meeting of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) provided a historical world-wide tour of the search for aphrodisiacs, ending with current evidence-based… Continue reading Getting Women in the Mood for Sex
Fear, Greed and the Financial Hazards of Emotional Investing
He was a successful dentist who managed his own money his entire life and prided himself on his financial acumen. When he retired, he saw no reason to change. Instead of kicking back and enjoying a well-earned life of leisure, he became not only financially invested in the markets, but emotionally invested as well, much… Continue reading Fear, Greed and the Financial Hazards of Emotional Investing
New Nuclear Medicine Tracer Will Help Study the Aging Brain
A new PET imaging radiotracer could help researchers understand neurodegenerative disease and the aging brain. The study was featured in the October 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. A release from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging explains that past studies have shown a reduced density of the α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine… Continue reading New Nuclear Medicine Tracer Will Help Study the Aging Brain
New Geriatrics Research Offers Roadmap to “Revolutionary Change” for Person-Centered Care
Published on October 3rd 2018 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS), two new research articles and a corresponding commentary from preeminent geriatrics leaders describe ways to make person-centered care–a novel approach to health that puts personal values and preferences at the forefront of decision-making–more actionable for older people. With our national health… Continue reading New Geriatrics Research Offers Roadmap to “Revolutionary Change” for Person-Centered Care
When it Comes to Age Spots, Be “Berry” Careful
When it comes to eliminating “liver spots,” those unsightly skin blemishes that multiply with age, the oil and nutrients derived from berries, including lingonberries, seem to be all the rage. But I advise patients to exercise caution when it comes to treatment fads claiming to “lighten” or rid the skin of liver spots, also called… Continue reading When it Comes to Age Spots, Be “Berry” Careful
Online Diabetes Prevention Programs Are as Effective as In-Person Sessions for Weight Loss
According to a September 2018 UCLA Research Alert, researchers examined participation and weight loss results in an online diabetes prevention program; an in-person diabetes prevention program; and the Veterans Administration’s face-to-face standard-of-care weight management program, called MOVE! In the primary analysis, enrollees in the online diabetes prevention program saw a mean weight loss of 10.3… Continue reading Online Diabetes Prevention Programs Are as Effective as In-Person Sessions for Weight Loss
Colorful Vines and Groundcovers for the Fall Garden
Create a colorful and fragrant fall finale in your garden with groundcovers and vines. Blanket the earth with hardy groundcovers that add seasonal interest. Then direct your eye skyward with vines climbing on trellises, fences and arbors. Add a cloud of fragrant beauty with the white flowers of sweet autumn clematis. This vigorous vine quickly… Continue reading Colorful Vines and Groundcovers for the Fall Garden
3 Surprises to Watch Out for When Paying for Long-Term Care
More than 70 percent of Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term health care services, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Yet, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, only 13 percent of those who received professional home health care had long-term insurance policies, which can protect seniors from… Continue reading 3 Surprises to Watch Out for When Paying for Long-Term Care
Cocoa Is a Tasty Source of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is crucial for our body – but most people don’t get enough. Brittle bones and an increased risk of respiratory diseases can be the result of a vitamin D deficiency. But here’s some amazing news! A new 2018 study has discovered a previously unknown source of vitamin D2: cocoa and foods containing cocoa!… Continue reading Cocoa Is a Tasty Source of Vitamin D
How to Keep Exercising Despite Chronic Pain
Pain is a great excuse if you don’t like to exercise, and it’s certainly something many people with chronic pain would just as soon avoid. Yet at the same time exercise is one of the things that can help make that pain go away. Research has shown that exercise is an essential aspect in the… Continue reading How to Keep Exercising Despite Chronic Pain
Insomnia Symptoms and Overall Health Improve with Online Insomnia Program
Treating insomnia with digital cognitive behavioral therapy programs can not only improve insomnia symptoms, but daytime functioning and overall health as well according to a 2018 study from the University of Oxford and Northwestern Medicine. The year-long study involved 1,711 people, and researchers found online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) improved not only insomnia symptoms, but functional… Continue reading Insomnia Symptoms and Overall Health Improve with Online Insomnia Program
Take Care of Your Eyes to Protect Your Independence
Just about every article on healthy aging will remind you to eat better, exercise more, get plenty of rest, and make sure you’re getting routine check-ups with your dentist and doctor. While I am passionate about all those things, this time I’m focusing on taking care of your eyes. It’s something I have personal interest… Continue reading Take Care of Your Eyes to Protect Your Independence
Being Older Helps Skin Heal with Less Scarring
A compound secreted in the bloodstream could be the key factor that causes wounds in older people to heal with less scarring than in younger people. The compound is called stromal cell-derived-factor-1 (SDF1), and researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania showed that blocking it could influence scar formation and… Continue reading Being Older Helps Skin Heal with Less Scarring